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Biomedical subjects

K Higashino

Publications and source records attributed to K Higashino.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Reduction of 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to lithocholic and isolithocholic acids by human liver cytosol in vitro.

The formation of lithocholic and isolithocholic acids from 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid by human liver cytosol was examined in vitro. Liver cytosol was incubated at various pH levels with 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid in a phosphate buffer containing NADPH or NADH; the products formed were analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that human liver cytosol reduced 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to lithocholic acid at a pH level of 7.0 or above and to isolithocholic acid at a pH level of 6.0 or below when NADPH was used as a coenzyme, and it was reduced to isolithocholic acid only when NADH was used. Furthermore, two peaks for the reducing enzymes could be clearly found by column chromatography of Affi-Gel Blue. These results indicate that human liver cytosol contains two enzymes acting on reduction of 3-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid to lithocholic and isolithocholic acids, which are dependent on the pH level and the use of NADPH or NADH in vitro. Since the 3 beta-dehydrogenation was inhibited by the addition of pyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor or ethanol, and the major peak of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase coincided with the peak of alcohol dehydrogenase on Affi-Gel Blue chromatography, at least some of the cytosolic 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase seemed to be identical to or to have characteristics similar to alcohol dehydrogenase.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1985

Cerebral subcortical calcification and hypoparathyroidism--a case report and review of the literature.

Hypoparathyroidism is known to exhibit various neurological manifestations, but most of the neurological disorders seen in this condition are motor ones, and involuntary movement is rarely encountered. Basal ganglion calcification is a common feature in hypoparathyroidism. But calcification of the cerebral cortex is, to our knowledge, extremely rare with only nine previously documented cases reported. We report a case of both involuntary movement and extensive cortical calcification with some reference to the literature. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between neurological disorders and intracranial calcification.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Increased asialo-alpha-fetoprotein in patients with alpha-fetoprotein-producing tumors: demonstration by affinity electrophoresis with erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin of Phaseolus vulgaris lectin.

Affinity electrophoresis of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with the erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin of Phaseolus vulgaris (E-PHA) gave up to five resolved bands (y, h, i, l and a; given in the order of decreasing affinity for E-PHA); band a having no affinity and bands y and h representing asialo-AFP's. The proportion of band y increased in extrahepatic tumors producing AFP, including yolk sac tumor, and of band h, in addition, in hepatocellular carcinoma. The proportion of either band y or h (or y + h) increased, over the means plus 2 standard deviations of the respective bands of cord serum AFP, in 20 out of 25 cases (80%) of hepatocellular carcinoma, including cell lines, and in all the patients with extrahepatic malignancy. Band i was detected in more than half the cases with malignancy, although the extent of its increases was much less. Band a appeared only in limited cases. None of the hepatitis and cirrhotic patients showed increased proportions of band y or h (or y + h), indicating the usefulness of the determination of asialo-AFP for the discrimination between benign and malignant liver diseases.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

[Effect of adriamycin, mitomycin-C, and tegafur (AMF) chemotherapy on advanced lung cancer].

Seven patients with advanced inoperable carcinoma of the lung were treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of adriamycin, mitomycin-C, and tegafur (AMF therapy). There was, at least, no progress of the carcinoma during treatment and objective response was obtained in 28.6% of patients. With regard to side effects, leukopenia and gastrointestinal symptoms were found in each of 3 patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

[The effect of lithium carbonate against leukopenia during systemic chemotherapy in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung].

To investigate whether lithium carbonate ameliorates the leukopenia and infectious complication that accompany systemic chemotherapy, we studied 19 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung receiving combination chemotherapy. Eight patients received systemic chemotherapy and lithium carbonate and 11 patients received systemic chemotherapy alone. The mean leukocyte count nadir during chemotherapy was significantly higher in the patients of the lithium group than in the patients of the control group (p less than 0.05). Percentage of infectious complication related to leukopenia was lower in the lithium group than in the control group, although there was no significant difference between these two groups. There was almost no significant side effect except for liver dysfunction in one patient. We therefore believe that lithium carbonate is an effective and safe drug against leukopenia during cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Hypercholinesterasemia with isoenzymic alteration in a family.

A family with hypercholinesterasemia with isoenzymic alteration is reported. The propositus, a 55-year-old woman, was admitted to our hospital because of diabetes mellitus. Because her cholinesterase activity (delta pH 3.2) was supranormal, with no other abnormal liver-function test result throughout the hospitalization period, and was independent of her disease state, we investigated whether this condition might be familial. We studied six of her 17 family members in three generations. All six had above-normal serum cholinesterase activity. Gradient gel electrophoresis on polyacrylamide showed that the normal control individuals had seven isoenzymes, but all the family members with hypercholinesterasemia had two additional isoenzymes. The enzymic properties of the affected members were similar to those of the normal individuals. Hypercholinesterasemia in this family seems to be the result of an increased number of enzyme molecules, but how this isoenzymic alteration emerged remains obscure.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1983

Enzyme immunoassay of human plasma fibronectin in malignant, collagen and liver diseases.

A competitive enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of human plasma fibronectin (PFN) was developed, using polystyrene beads as a solid phase and glucose oxidase as a marker enzyme. This method gave a reproducible standard curve in the range of 0.5-50 micrograms/ml. The mean PFN level in normal persons was 345 micrograms/ml (standard deviation 68.4 micrograms/ml, n = 30). The PFN levels in patients with malignant, collagen and liver diseases were also measured. The mean PFN level in patients with collagen disease was significantly higher than that in normal persons, whereas the mean PFN levels in patients with malignant and liver diseases were not significantly different.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Production of fibronectin by HUH6 C15 cell line established from a human hepatoblastoma.

Fibronectin was detected by indirect immunofluorescence on the cell surfaces of HUH6 C15 cells, established from a human hepatoblastoma and maintained with serum-free RPMI 1640 medium. Fibronectin synthesized by HUH6 Cl5 was purified by gelatin-Sepharose affinity chromatography and compared with human plasma fibronectin in respect to molecular weight, electrophoretic mobility and antigenicity. Fibronectin synthesized by this cell line was proved to be identical with human plasma fibronectin.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1983

Unusual trihydroxylated bile acids in urine of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Urine from 20 male patients with liver cirrhosis was analyzed for bile acid constituents by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five unusual trihydroxy bile acids were found in the urine: norcholic acid in 18; 3 alpha, 7 beta, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid in 9; hyocholic acid in 11; 1 beta, 3 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid in 12; and allocholic acid in 13 patients. The presence of unusual trihydroxy bile acids was unrelated to the clinical severity of cirrhosis. Norcholic acid was the major trihydroxy bile acid which was found in the urine.

Adult↗